Pastor's Note - Summer 2022

Rest and the Preeminence of Jesus
By Pastor David White

In American culture, summer is a time for rest and relaxation. Lazy days at the beach, losing all track of time except the sun’s slow crawl across the sky. The water gently slapping the side of the boat while you listen to the singing birds and buzzing insects, waiting contentedly for the tug on your fishing line. Sitting down at Citizen’s Bank Park with good friends and a cold drink watching the Phillies (hopefully win). Taking that favorite hike again, climbing steep slopes through cool woods, with trees soaring overhead and a tumbling stream chattering alongside the trail.

But sometimes rest doesn’t come that easy. Sometimes in the above scenarios the outward serenity belies the inner tension you can’t shake. Work stresses follow you to your vacation destination. (Often quite literally in our digital, always-accessible-to-everyone world!) The loneliness is unabated, even accentuated, by the surrounding crowds. Or you’re delighted with those around you, but their presence heightens the absence of one for whom your heart aches. And, of course, you’re there, and usually you pack your idols for the trip. As one man said to me, “In the me-centered vacation environment, lust thrives.” (Feel free to insert your own idol there… What do you desire?!)

If the right context doesn’t automatically produce rest, what does? How can my soul find peace from the pressures without and churning within? Jesus has a word for us: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus promises us rest as we come to him. And remember who we’re talking about: Jesus is preeminent (see Ephesians 1:15-23)! He is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion!” No one else is even close. He “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3).

Pause for a moment to consider: the Earth is spinning at a rate of 1000 miles/hour and hurtling in its orbit around the sun at 67,000 miles/hour. And that’s just our planet. Our entire solar system is whirling en masse around the center of our galaxy at 490,000 miles/hour. And, as far as we can tell, there are 3,200 other suns in our galaxy with their own planetary systems. And, based on the observations from the Hubble telescope, scientists estimate at least 100 billion galaxies in our universe. Jesus upholds all of this with a word. Such is his preeminence. This is the One who invites you to come weary and burdened for rest. He clearly has the ability to carry your burdens.

But that raises another question: is there anything hindering you coming to him? Hebrews 3:7-4:13 is an extended discussion of finding rest for God’s people, contrasting God’s sabbath rest in Genesis 2:1-3 (from which sabbath is derived for humanity) and Psalm 95 which concludes with the warning: “Therefore I swore in my wrath, ‘They shall not enter my rest’” (v. 11). Speaking of the Israelites the author concludes, “they were unable to enter because of unbelief” (3:19). And again, “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience” (Hebrews 4:11). Our unbelief and disobedience are major hindrances to experiencing rest!

Two encouragements to finding rest: ask him what is hindering you. Are there areas of unbelief and disobedience in your life? Will you bring those burdens to lay at his feet, along with all the others? Second, meditate on the preeminence of Jesus. Worship him as you enjoy the beauty of his creation (“all things were created through him and for him” – Colossians 1:16). See him high and lifted up over all the stressors that cloud your mind. He is seated in the heavens, infinitely above them. He is beyond their reach. And so are you. Pray for the eyes of faith to believe the promise that you are seated with him in that lofty place (Ephesians 2:6). You share the throne and the inheritance and the power. Be still before this mighty One. Meditate on these things. He will bring you peace and rest.